Birding Extremadura
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    Welcome to Birding Extremadura

    CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENT

    Sharing our passion for nature in Extremadura since 2005

    The best of nature in Spain

  • Agency

    A rich natural heritage

    A top birding destination

    CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENT


  • Photography

    Diverse landscapes

    Variety of habitats and spectacular nature

    CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENT


  • Photography

    Birding Extremadura

    Stay with Martin and Claudia Kelsey at Casa Rural El Recuerdo

    CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENT


CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENT

Sharing our passion for nature in Extremadura since 2005

Thank you for being part of our story

After more than two decades sharing the beauty of Extremadura with you...

The time has come to close a very special chapter of our lives. We are retiring and this means that Birding Extremadura will no longer be running guided trips.
We want to express our most sincere gratitude to everyone who, throughout these years, has chosen, recommended, and accompanied us. We have had the privilege of welcoming birders from all over the world, many of whom have become great friends.
Every stay and every outing to explore nature in Extremadura will always remain in our memory. Thank you for your trust, your affection, and for having been part of this wonderful adventure.
This website will be rebuilt to showcase and explore the nature of Extremadura. In the meantime, we are keeping the pages on-line for those interested in seeing the work that we did from 2005 to 2026.

With all our love,

Claudia, Martin and Patrick Kelsey

Marin Kelsey

Hello!

We welcome you to Birding Extremadura! Here in the heart of Extremadura, in one of Europe's best birding areas, we run a country guesthouse for birders and all nature lovers.
The choice is yours…Bed and breakfast, evening meals and packed lunches are all available. Ask us for local expert birding advice, or be taken out on guided day trips. We also offer private individually customised week-long tours, exclusively for you.
Come to stay with us and discover why Extremadura draws birders from all over the world, a place that enthrals and that people return to again and again.

 

Martin, Claudia and Patrick Kelsey welcome you

Martin

Martin Kelsey OBE

Started birding as a small boy fifty years ago. After completing research on birds in the UK, East Africa and South America, he then spent five years working for BirdLife International before moving to Save the Children, where he was based for four years in Colombia and a further four years in India. He helped found the Neotropical Bird Club.

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Claudia Camacho

Grew up in Colombia and has long been active in ecotourism and outdoor recreational work, studying Hotel Administration and Tourism. She worked in a travel agency specialising in ecotourism and wildlife tours in Colombia and was the local organiser for the first commercial bird tours ever to go to Colombia, run over four years by Birdquest.

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Claudia
Patrick

Patrick Kelsey

Was born in India in 2000 and by the time he was three he was already describing the plumage of sunbirds in the garden. In Extremadura he became fascinated in astronomy and he is now studying Theoretical Physics at the University of Birmingham.

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The Team

We promote actively a collaborative approach in all that we do...

Promotion

We are passionate about Extremadura and love to share that passion with others.

Advice

We are enthusiastic about providing advice to anyone thinking of visiting Extremadura, be they birders, general tourists, journalists or photographers.

Talks and publications

We enjoy giving talks to groups about Extremadura and give assistance in many ways to publications about Extremadura.

Blog

Reading our blog is a way of staying connected to Extremadura and its wildlife, wherever you are.

Conservation and local initiatives

We work closely with local government and non-government organisations to support their activities on birds, conservation and tourism.

Welcoming

Our guesthouse, Casa Rural El Recuerdo, is our home too, and we hope all of our guests feel relaxed, comfortable and fully at home here too..

" Thank you Martin for guiding us all so well, your knowledge of birds, their calls and locations is amazing. "

Frank Wharram (UK)

" As birding trips go, I can't think how this one could be bettered. Thank you Martin for guiding us so expertly and Claudia for feeding us so well. "

Jack Massey ( UK )

" Wow! Another fabulous week with amazing birds, butterflies, dragonflies and flowers in such warm and friendly company! Our stay was so comfortable and your hospitality and food perfect! "

Julie Rogers ( UK )

Our services

Help for photographers

We can link you up with people offering specialist services for photographers, such as hides for birds of prey.

Guiding

Martin can offer you exclusive excursions for birds, as well as other wildlife, throughout the year.

Free Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the house and we also have a large library of books about nature.

Other tourist information

We can advise you on how on make the most of your visit to Extremadura, including information on sight-seeing, local festivals and other activities.

Information about birds

Martin is an expert on birds in Extremadura and will advise you on where to find the species that you want to see, as well as information on anything unusual that is around.

Meeting your needs

We can arrange breakfasts when you want them, pack lunches if you need them and evening meals to meet any dietary preference.

Prices & Booking

Registration Number OA-CC-00052

 

All prices are in euros and include all taxes

Price per person for an 8 day/7 nights private tour including full board and guiding is 1950 Euros (based on at least two people).

To enquire about availability or any further details (including prices for one person or for variation in the length of tour), or for booking half-day or single day excursions contact Martin directly at casaruralelrecuerdo@gmail.com

We are legally registered in Spain and compliant with tax and insurance regulations. The customer has 100% protection under Linked Travel Arrangements through RuralPlan.

Cancellation Terms

Period before departure in which you notify us of a cancellation

  • More than 30 days - Deposit only
  • 29-10 days - 50% of total cost
  • 9 days or less - 100% of total cost

    • If you cancel more than eight weeks before the arrival date, you can transfer the deposit paid to secure a booking for another private tour with us.

  • Double room with breakfast 85 euros
  • Single room with breakfast 75 euros.
  • Supplementary bed 10 euros (children under 10 years free).
  • Dinner (optional) 25 € (includes wine)

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    ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT

  • Our solar panels produce most of our domestic energy requirements.
  • We recycle as much of our waste that is possible.
  • We have eliminated the use of plastic water bottles and hugely reduced our use of plastic packaging.
  • We purchase local products. We actively support local producers and businesses by being part of local associations like the Ruta del Queso.
  • We offer home-grown products, from our ecological vegetable garden, olive oil and free-range eggs.
  • We support local conservation.We donate to AMUS (a wild animal rescue centre and leading conservation organisation), support a bird conservation project through the Birding in Extremadura Club and volunteer time to monitoring wildlife.
  • We follow an ethical code in our nature guiding activities to ensure the welfare of wildlife comes first.

    • We will be strictly following current health protocols, regulations and recommendations to ensure that we keep you safe.
    Booking a private, customised exclusive guided holiday is an excellent way to enjoy Extremadura with an expert guide and to ensure social distancing from other people.
    Please contact us for further information casaruralelrecuerdo@gmail.com

    Extremadura´s birds

    Extremadura
    Azure-winged Magpies

    A common bird in gardens and dehesa woodland across Extremadura
    Birding Extremadura
    Griffon and Black Vulture

    Both species will look for carrion on the plains. Over 900 pairs of Black Vulture in Extremadura
    Birding Extremadura
    Common Cranes

    Extremadura is the most important wintering area in Europe for cranes with about 140,000 present
    Birding Extremadura
    Golden Oriole

    More often heard than seen, this is a widespread species
    Birding Extremadura
    Great Bustard

    One of the most emblematic species of the plains, it can be seen all year round
    Birding Extremadura
    Black-winged Kite

    A species of farmland with scattered trees, mainly active at dawn and dusk
    Birding Extremadura
    Roller

    Nestboxes provided for Rollers are used readily
    Birding Extremadura
    Spanish Imperial Eagle

    Extremadura is one of the best places to see this spectacular eagle

    Swarovski

    Extremadura is birding at its best…..and to get the best of birding I use Swarovski optics. The EL50 Swarovision binoculars had their global launch in Extremadura.

    click to see the video

    Birding Club - Professional Services

    All holidays for 2026 are now fully booked. We will be retiring in July 2026 and no longer offering birding trips or accommodation. In late 2026, this website will be rebuilt to provide information about birds and other wildlife in Extremadura. You can check this information for other people offering birding and accommodation in Extremadura

    professional services

    Latest Blog

    Blog birding Extremadura
    PDF, feb 16, 2014
    Magazine Aladierno
    by Celima, Feb 24, 2015
    The garden at El Recuerdo
    by Chuty, Jan 29, 2015
    Bellotas en el jardín

    El primer video de la casa

    Watch Video

     

    Video 2019